12 Best Social Media Apps to Enhance Your Online Experience

Are you curious about the best social media apps to enhance your online experience? With over 4.9 billion people worldwide using social media as of 2024, these platforms have become essential for communication, entertainment, and information sharing. Social media apps connect us with friends and family and allow us to discover new interests, engage with communities, and even promote businesses. 

According to a recent survey, 54% of users browse social media to find products, which makes these tools more valuable for marketers and consumers.

From sharing life updates to exploring diverse content, there are many benefits to social media apps. These apps provide instant access to news, trends, and entertainment, making it easier than ever to stay informed and connected. 

In this article, we’ll explore the 12 best social media apps available today. We’ll delve into their unique features and what sets them apart from others. 

12 Best Social Media Apps for Every Interest

With so many social media platforms available, it can be overwhelming to find the ones that cater to your interests. Let’s dive into the Popular social media apps and find the perfect one to enhance your digital journey

1. Facebook

Launch Year: 2004

Founder: Mark Zuckerberg

Company: Meta Platforms, Inc.

Compatible Devices: Android,  iOS, Web

Active Users: Over 2.9 billion monthly active users

Facebook is one of the most popular and best social media apps that helps people connect and share with friends, family, and communities. With Facebook, you can create personal profiles, share updates, photos, and videos, and even join groups that match your interests. Facebook’s powerful advertising tools allow companies to target specific audiences, making it an excellent choice for marketers. This social media app also offers events, a marketplace for buying and selling items. 

Key Features – 

• Discover topics that interest you instantly with Meta AI Search—your assistant for information!
• Explore Facebook Marketplace for amazing deals and unique treasures that fuel your hobbies.
• Customise your news feed to see what you love and skip what doesn’t interest you.
• Join interest-based groups to gain valuable insights and tips from like-minded individuals.
• Seamlessly share posts to Instagram to keep your friends updated effortlessly.
• Use generative AI to create custom images or get writing help for your posts.
• Personalise your profile to reflect your personality and control your audience.
• Create eye-catching reels with trendy templates and easy editing tools.
• Capture and share your daily life in real-time with Stories to keep connections strong.

2. X (Formerly Twitter)

Launch Year: 2006

Founders: Jack Dorsey, Biz Stone, Evan Williams, Noah Glass

Company: Twitter, Inc.

Compatible Devices: iOS, Android, Web

Active Users: Approximately 450 million monthly active users

X, formerly known as Twitter, is a popular social media platform where you can share your thoughts, join conversations, and stay updated on what’s happening in the world. It’s like a virtual town square where everyone can speak their mind and connect with people who share similar interests. Whether you want to follow the latest news, chat with others, or grow your business, X gives you the tools to do it all.

Key Features – 

• Share your opinions and join discussions with people from all over the world.
• Communicate privately with friends or followers through direct messages.
• Reach out to customers directly and grow your brand on X.
• You can get paid by offering exclusive content to subscribers or earning from ads shown in replies to your posts.

3. Instagram

Launch Year: 2010

Founders: Kevin Systrom, Mike Krieger

Company: Meta Platforms, Inc.

Compatible Devices: iOS, Android, Web

Active Users: Over 2 billion monthly active users

Instagram is one of the best social media apps for sharing moments, connecting with friends, and exploring your interests. It allows users to showcase everyday happenings and significant life events, creating a vibrant community where you can engage with what matters to you. Instagram provides a platform for expressing yourself and connecting with others.

Key Features – 

• You can share updates with Stories and Notes that disappear after 24 hours, keeping your friends in the loop.
• With Reels, you can create short, fun videos with music and effects to showcase your creativity. 
• You can also customise your posts using templates, music, stickers, and filters.
• The Explore Page helps you get inspired by new photos and videos from accounts you don’t follow. 

4. LinkedIn

Launch Year: 2003

Founders: Reid Hoffman, Allen Blue, Konstantin Guericke, Eric Ly, Jean-Luc Vaillant

Company: Microsoft

Compatible Devices: iOS, Android, Web

Active Users: Over 950 million members

If you’re serious about advancing your career, the LinkedIn app is a must-have in your toolkit. As one of the best social media apps for professionals, LinkedIn connects you with opportunities, industry insights, and like-minded individuals ready to collaborate. With LinkedIn, you can take control of your career and open up opportunities you never imagined!

Key Features – 

• Create a detailed professional profile to showcase your skills and experiences.
• Search for job opportunities that match your qualifications.
• Apply directly for jobs using your LinkedIn profile or resume.
• Set up job alerts for new openings in your field.
• Connect with colleagues, industry leaders, and professionals globally.
• Join relevant groups and engage in discussions about industry trends.
• Use an intuitive resume builder to create a polished online CV.

5. Snapchat

Launch Year: 2011

Founders: Evan Spiegel, Bobby Murphy, Reggie Brown

Company: Snap Inc.

Compatible Devices:  iOS and Android

Active Users: Approximately 400 million monthly active users

Snapchat is one of the best social media apps for sharing spontaneous moments with friends and family in a fun and interactive way. The app focuses on real-time communication, allowing users to send photos and videos that disappear after being viewed, adding an element of excitement and urgency to sharing experiences. With its unique features, Snapchat encourages creativity and self-expression, making it a popular choice among younger audiences.

Key Features – 

• The app opens straight to the camera, enabling users to quickly capture and share their day. 
• You can enhance your snaps with a variety of Lenses, Filters, and Bitmoji, making your content more personalised and engaging. 
• The Chat feature allows for live messaging and video calls with friends. It also supports group conversations and interactive experiences.
• The Map feature adds another layer by allowing users to see their friends’ locations or explore live Stories from around the world.
• The Friendship Profile feature enhances connections by celebrating your unique relationships with your friends.

6. TikTok

Launch Year: 2016

Founder: Alex Zhu, Luyu Yang

Company: ByteDance

Compatible Devices: iOS

Active Users: Over 1 billion monthly active users

TikTok is the ultimate social media app for mobile videos, especially short-form content that is exciting, spontaneous, and genuine. If you’re passionate about sports, adore pets, or simply want a good laugh, TikTok has something for everyone. With an endless stream of personalised videos tailored to your interests, you can easily engage with content you love and skip what doesn’t appeal to you, making it a delightful addition to your day.

Key Features – 

• Enjoy a continuous stream of videos customised based on what you watch, like, and share, ensuring a unique experience every time.
• Explore a wide range of video categories, including Comedy, Gaming, DIY, Food, Sports, Memes, Pets, ASMR, and more, all just a scroll away.
• Get inspired by millions of creators showcasing their talents and everyday lives, providing entertainment and motivation.
• Easily trim, cut, merge, and duplicate clips without leaving the app, streamlining your editing process.
• Engage with hosts in real-time through special LIVE features, available via subscription in select regions.

7. Pinterest

Launch Year: 2010

Founders: Ben Silbermann, Paul Sciarra, Evan Sharp

Company: Pinterest, Inc.

Compatible Devices: iOS,  Android, Web

Active Users: Approximately 465 million monthly active users

Pinterest is another of the best social media apps for discovering and saving ideas across a wide range of interests. It acts like a giant online bulletin board where you can find inspiration for home decor, recipes, fashion, DIY projects, and more. On Pinterest, you can explore millions of images, known as “pins,” that showcase different ideas. If something catches your eye, you can save it to your boards, which are like folders where you can organise your favourite inspirations.

Key Features – 

• The app also makes it easy to shop for the latest trends
• You can receive tailored suggestions based on your interests and activity.
• Invite friends to contribute ideas to shared boards for group projects or planning.
• Explore popular and trending pins to stay updated with the latest trends and inspirations.

8. Reddit

Launch Year: 2005

Founders: Steve Huffman, Alexis Ohanian

Company: Reddit, Inc.

Compatible Devices: iOS, Android, Web

Active Users: Over 500 million monthly active users

Reddit is a dynamic social media app that serves as the heart of online conversations and offers a platform for diverse discussions and trending topics. It’s designed for users who want to engage with a wide range of content, no matter it’s gaming, memes, news, or niche interests. With over 100,000 online communities or subreddits, Reddit is home to curated forums where people can share ideas, ask questions, and participate in lively discussions.

Key Features – 

• Redditors create and share posts, fostering authentic discussions and interactions.
• Upvotes and downvotes determine the visibility of posts and comments, helping quality content rise to the top.
• Users earn karma points based on the popularity of their contributions, which can influence their standing within the community.
• Threads often feature in-depth conversations, humour, and insights on a variety of subjects.
• It offers an ad-free experience, access to exclusive features, and special avatar gear.

9. WhatsApp

Launch Year: 2009

Founders: Brian Acton, Jan Koum

Company: Meta Platforms, Inc.

Compatible Devices: iOS, Android, Web

Active Users: Over 2 billion monthly active users

WhatsApp is a popular social media app that allows users to connect easily through messaging, voice calls, and video calls. The app prioritises privacy and security, ensuring your conversations remain private and encrypted. You can enjoy a redesigned media view for images, videos, and GIFs, allowing for an engaging display. 

Key Features – 

• Sync your chats across devices, including your Mac, for seamless messaging.
• Send text messages privately with end-to-end encryption.
• React to messages and reply directly from the media view for quick interactions.
• Share photos and videos with your contacts for 24 hours, similar to stories on Instagram and Facebook
• Create and manage group conversations for easy communication with multiple contacts.

10. Telegram

Launch Year: 2013

Founders: Pavel Durov, Nikolai Durov

Company: Telegram Messenger LLP

Compatible Devices: iOS, Android, Web, Desktop

Active Users: Over 700 million monthly active users

Telegram is a powerful instant messaging app that stands out for its speed, security, and versatility. With over 700 million active users, it is among the top five most installed apps globally. Telegram’s unique architecture enables fast messaging through a distributed network of data centres, ensuring users can connect effortlessly from anywhere. The app is built with robust security measures, including end-to-end encryption, which ensures your conversations remain private.

Key Features – 

• You can access messages from any device without needing to keep your phone connected.
• Chats and media are encrypted with advanced security protocols to protect user data.
• Fully documented API and open-source apps, ensuring transparency and security.
• Create groups with up to 200,000 members and share large files (up to 2 GB).
• Offers self-destructing messages with end-to-end encryption for maximum privacy.

11. WeChat

Launch Year: 2011

Founders: Allen Zhang

Company: Tencent

Compatible Devices:  iOS, Android

Active Users: Over 1.2 billion monthly active users

WeChat is more than just a messaging app; it’s a comprehensive lifestyle platform for over one billion users around the globe. With WeChat, you can engage with your friends in multiple ways, from sending text messages to sharing videos and locations. The app also offers unique features like Moments, where you can share personal highlights and Time Capsule, WeChat is the Best platform for online visibility, allowing users to post short videos that vanish after 24 hours. 

Key Features – 

• Communicate with friends through text, photos, voice, and video messages, and create group chats with up to 500 members.
• Enjoy high-quality calls, including group video calls with up to 9 participants.
• Access thousands of fun, animated stickers for added expression in chats, including custom and selfie stickers.
• Use a variety of third-party services within the app without additional installations
• Make international calls to mobile phones and landlines at low rates
• Localised in 20 languages with translation features for messages and Moments.

12. Discord

Launch Year: 2015

Founders: Jason Citron, Stan Vishnevskiy

Company: Discord Inc.

Compatible Devices: iOS,  Android, Web, Desktop

Active Users: Over 150 million monthly active users

Discord is the ultimate social media app for gamers and social butterflies alike. It is considered the best space to connect with friends, build communities, and have fun. With its focus on group chats, streaming, and easy access to friends, it creates an inviting atmosphere where you can share experiences and enjoy each other’s company. On Discord, you can personalise your group chats with custom emojis, stickers, and sound effects, making each conversation uniquely yours. 

Key Features – 

• Customise your chat space for gaming or socialising, perfect for gathering friends or building a community.
• Experience low-latency streaming for games, shows, or shared activities, making interactions feel real-time.
• You can see which friends are online, and what games they’re playing, and join in on their activities with ease.
• Enjoy watching videos, playing built-in games, listening to music, or scrolling through memes together.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the 12 best social media apps we’ve explored can truly enhance your online experience. Each app offers unique features to help you connect with friends, discover new content, and engage in fun discussions. Try them out and see how they can enrich your daily life. 

As you explore the best social media apps, why not discover a few other helpful tools to enhance your experience? 

Check out the best chatting apps to stay connected with friends, the best cloud storage apps to organise and share your files, and the best translation apps to bridge language gaps. 

If you enjoy listening to music while scrolling, don’t miss our list of the best music streaming apps in India. 

Look at these articles and find the perfect app reviews & recommendations to improve your online experience!

FAQs: Best Social Media Apps

Q. What is the #1 social media app?

A. As of 2024, Facebook remains the #1 social media app, boasting the largest user base and a wide range of features for connecting with friends and sharing content.

Q. Which social media is most used in 2024?

A. In 2024, Instagram is among the most used social media platforms, particularly for sharing visual content, connecting with influencers, and engaging with diverse communities.

Q. Which app is the king of social media?

A. Facebook is often referred to as the king of social media due to its extensive reach, variety of functionalities, and longstanding dominance in the market.

Q. Which social media app is Indian?

A. ShareChat is a prominent Indian social media app that allows users to share content in various regional languages, specifically to the Indian audience.

Q. Which app is trending in India?

A. Koo is currently trending in India as a homegrown alternative to Twitter, allowing users to express their thoughts and share content in multiple Indian languages.